Back in my day the men and women of the California Highway Patrol were a shining beacon of hope, justice, and racial diversity. The sort of organization that would never have one of their own arrested for allegedly stealing an Xbox from a Target store.

Things sure have changed since 1983. Today 36-year-old California Highway Patrol Officer Shawn Hammonds is out on bail after being arrested and booked with four counts of burglary. Hammonds is suspected of stealing more than $1,300 from a Vacaville Target location and selling the stolen merchandise via the internet.

He was arrested on Monday after store security caught him allegedly attempting to steal an Xbox 360.

Hammonds, a California Highway Patrol member for more than five years, was a member of the Protective Service Division, tasked with keeping state buildings secure. He had been on medical leave for several months leading up to his arrest.

This is a dark day for the proud officers of CHiPs. If Eric Estrada were dead he'd be rolling in his grave, and everyone would be even more upset than they already are.